TheRibbonThatTiedItAllTogether

365 days have passed since 2013 started. Makes sense I guess. So many things have happened through out last year. Of course, everyone in the world can say that about every year, but I really had an adventure. It felt like forever, but we were at Malaysia last Summer, a camping trip, being an only child for 8 months, GED, SAT, and Christmas.

My family 'celebrated' my birthday in Oahu at a hotel! This was a really great year. The thing is that we are still in the awkward stage of moving off this rock. I don't mind. Take your time parents!

School has turned into a chore that I don't necessarily have to do, but should still do. Since I sat for my SAT (weird pun thingy there) and my GED I technically 'graduated'. Though my mom still says I need high school transcripts.... Pfffft, community college will let me in without a problem. My future is still uncertain, but that's okay. I know that wherever I end up is where I am supposed to be. I never would have thought the SAT would have been such a challenge. I really thought I knew a lot about the world at the beginning of the year. A typical naive teen-aged tool shed. The SAT really humbled me. I got a mediocre score that showed me that I only know a tiny sliver of the world's knowledge and that there is much more to learn and experience. But! The GED recovered some of my confidence since I aced it with flying unicorn colors.

The world can seem like a cracked-up women sometimes.

The trip to Malaysia alone can take up most of this post, but I wont do that. I'll sum up the entire trip in three words: yummy, family, food, yummy, and lots of food...... Wait I think that was more than three words....

Yep, a lot has transpired, but the big question for everyone isn't recollections.

Have I matured? Have I gained wisdom and knowledge? How has my walk progressed with God since the beginning of the year?

All those questions should be answered. Whether the answer will be bad or not. My maturity level has increased. I can say that confidently. Just recently I learnt something that I will have to work on probably for the rest of my life. Understanding. But not just understanding intellectually, understanding other people. I always considered feelings as nothing more than chemical reactions that people chose to feel. But that isn't the case.

As we can see from many sources, life sucks 90% of the time. Some people have terrible lives right from the get-go, fairness is nothing but a figment of our imaginations. Some people are orphans, others have no one that loves them or to love, unexpected deaths of our close ones, betrayal, disease, amputations, miscarriages...... All these horrible things that no one should have to deal with. But alas, a lot (if not all) people experience at least one or more of these things through out their lives. The thing is that I have never experienced any of these things. I have been a little sheltered rat since birth. Therefore, ever since just a little while ago I viewed things like depression, hatred, and grudges as things that people chose to do and feel. Boy, was I stupid.

There is a world out there with so much sorrow. Thank God that I have yet to experience true pain and suffering, but that doesn't mean other people aren't experiencing it. I am not saying that I have learnt to pity people. Pitying somebody is probably the worst thing you can do. The only thing you can do is be understanding. I always dismissed people with emotional problems as weak and cowardly, but there are things in this world that no one can bear. That's why we have Jesus. I just pray that people will run to Him when pain strikes us where it hurts the most.

Wisdom is just a word. What does it mean to me, though? Discernment is probably a good start. Being able to draw the line on most matters. Grey areas in life are the worst. Is it okay to watch rated R movies? Are girlfriend and boyfriend relationships good? How does one go about being 'holy'? Wisdom comes from God so we just have to abide in Him. Another great way is by listening to teachings of someone who is abiding in the Lord. But have I gleaned anything this past year that would increase and strengthen my wisdom? I think so. All of those hard hitting philosophical questions are easily answered when you are a Christian. The Bible really is the gateway to infinite knowledge and wisdom. And I will be spending the rest of my life trying to absorb it all. Since January 2013 I can say that I have grown mentally. For the year ahead I will probably need an extra serving of wisdom since I will be hitting that magical age of 18.

Growing in the Lord is something every Christian does for their entire life. I have still neglected my daily devotions. Prayer is easily forgotten. Thankfully we found an amazing church at the beginning of this year. The pastor's messages have really ministered to me. I must accept that I am an imperfect being. Every good work I attempt will end in absolute failure. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit within me can I achieve any sort of good work. It has been a challenging year. I still struggle with the fact that I am sinning and will continue to sin to the very day I die. It's just who I am. I am a sinner. I will never accept that fact, but I must realize it. You shouldn't let that discourage you! Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we can be free. I am free. But my old nature is still very much alive. The war is won, but the battles shall continue. I will win some and I will lose a lot, but as the picture slowly zooms out I can see the beauty that is called my life.

Have an awesome 2014 Dear Readers. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy lives to read my blog. I ask for you to remain with me and my blog till the very last post. Here's to another exciting year.